Explorer, May 12, 2021

EXPLORER The Voice of Marana, Oro Valley and Northwest Tucson

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Graduation 2021

O. , 

Highlighting this year’s valedictorians and outstanding students | Page 9

County supes vote to fund childcare program

INSIDE

Our Town

Special Summer Programs | Page 4

COVID Update Cases remain on plateau | Page 13

Sports & Rec Local athlete of the week | Page 19

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C D Tucson Local Media

many of their Democratic colleagues to send a letter to SBA urging them to reopen the application portal before “more independent businesses are forced to shutter permanently or file for bankruptcy.” SBA announced it would reopen the portal on April 24 and the Rialto Theatre was one of the venues that applied for funding.

See KELLY, P6

See CHILDCARE, P5

Sen. Kelly highlights shuttered venue grants at Rialto Theatre C D Tucson Local Media

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en. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz) visited the Rialto Theatre this week to highlight federal funding designed to get local music venues open again.

The federal government allocated more than $16.2 billion to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant for live venues, live performing arts organizations, mu-

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seums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives.

But when the small Business Administration opened the portal for the first-come, first-serve program on April 8, the demand from venue owners and other eligible participants crashed the system.

Two weeks later, Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz) joined

T

he Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a $10 million plan to fund early education scholarships for low-income families at last week’s meeting.

On Feb. 16, the county approved a measure to allocate $10 million for the upcoming fiscal year budget to fund full or partial scholarships to parents who wish to enroll their 3- to 4-year-old children (or 5-year-olds not eligible for kindergarten) in high-quality early education programs.

The scholarship program works to help low-income families find reliable and affordable childcare. It’s also designed to address the decline and loss of early childhood programs during the pandemic.

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Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

EXPLORER

The Explorer and Marana News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the Northwest Tucson. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of the Explorer and Marana News, go to www.TucsonLocalMedia.com

STAFF ADMINISTRATION Steve T. Strickbine, Publisher Michael Hiatt, Vice President Jaime Hood, General Manager, Ext. 12 jaime@tucsonlocalmedia.com Claudine Sowards, Accounting, Ext. 13 claudine@tucsonlocalmedia.com Sheryl Kocher, Receptionist, Ext. 10 sheryl@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL Jim Nintzel, Executive Editor, Ext. 38 jimn@tucsonlocalmedia.com Jeff Gardner, Associate Editor Ext. 43, jeff@tucsonlocalmedia.com Mike Truelsen, Web Editor Ext. 35, mike@tucsonlocalmedia.com Christina Duran, Staff Reporter, Ext. 42, christinad@tucsonlocalmedia.com PRODUCTION David Abbott, Production Manager, Ext. 18 david@tucsonlocalmedia.com Ryan Dyson Graphic Designer, Ext. 26, ryand@tucsonlocalmedia.com Emily Filener, Graphic Designer, Ext. 28 emilyf@tucsonlocalmedia.com CIRCULATION Alex Carrasco, Circulation, Ext. 17 alexc@tucsonlocalmedia.com ADVERTISING Kristin Chester, Account Executive, Ext. 25 kristin@tucsonlocalmedia.com Lisa Hopper, Account Executive, Ext. 39 Lisa@tucsonlocalmedia.com Candace Murray, Account Executive, Ext. 24, candace@tucsonlocalmedia.com Tyler Vondrak, Account Executive, Ext. 27 tyler@tucsonlocalmedia.com EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT The Explorer and Marana News expresses its opinion in the editorial. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author. The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Tucson Local Media assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement. Publisher has the right to edit for size or refuse any advertisement at his or her discretion.

7225 N. Mona Lisa Road, Ste. 125 Tucson, Arizona 85741 PHONE: (520) 797-4384

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Hot Picks Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art Exhibit. You might not always think about Marine Corps members as artists, but, of course, artists take many shapes. This traveling exhibit by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and National Museum of the Marine Corps features 36 works of art by 15 combat artists, focusing on Marine Corps service from immediately after the Vietnam War through to more recent years. It’s traveling across the country until mid-2023, and will be at the Pima Air & Space Museum for a few months.

You don’t want to miss it before it leaves at the end of August. On display at the Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Included with museum admission.

The Loft Reopens! It’s been almost 14 months since Tucson’s most beloved movie theater stopped doing indoor screenings, and now they’re back! “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street” is first on the roster, and tells the story behind the creation of the children’s TV show.

It made its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, and now it gets to make its Tucson premiere here. For now, they’re only doing screenings in the Loft’s main auditorium, seating capacity is reduced, maskwearing is mandatory and seating must be reserved.

And if that’s what it takes to get back into a movie theater, watching the lights dim and holding a popcorn container in your lap, sign us up! The

Loft, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

GA is $7.50 for matinee and $10 for evening. See loftcinema.org for more details on other showtimes.

Tempera Paintings of Ted DeGrazia. In a crazy, unpredictable world, one thing we can rely on is tempera paintings. This techniques involves colored pigments mixed with a binder—traditionally egg yolk. And they’re super long-lasting: There are tempera paintings intact from the first century AD. Come check out DeGrazia’s unique twist on this ancient medium, which he explored in 1959 and 1960. As usual, he has a way of bringing images to life with his use of color and brushstrokes.

This exhibit is on display through Sept. 1 at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum, 6300 N. Swan. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and adult admission is $8.

5-DAY WEATHER WEDNESDAY

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Benefitting Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank MAY 12th, 13th and 14th 9AM -5PM

Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank is a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to helping stop abandonment of all animals & feeding and caring for animals one at a time because no one should ever have to make the decision of feeding their family or their loving pet.

ITEMS NEEDED: •Dog & Cat Food (Wet and Dry)

Can be open bags with in expiration dates only No Ole Roy or Gravy Train please.

•Animal boots for summer(sm., med. & lg.)

•New and slightly used beds, collars, leashes, toys, bowls and cages in good condition •Blankets, towels and bedding

•Animal treats for all ages •Gift certificates to local vets for spay and neuter •Quart size and sandwich ziplock bags, paper towels, disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer, glass cleaner, disposable gloves and masks •Postage stamps, white copy paper •Volunteers at store or events

DONATION SITES: SUNNY

SUNDAY

91 62

JOIN US for the ORO VALLEY ANIMAL FOOD DRIVE

SUNNY

TOWN OF ORO VALLEY Administration Building and Oro Valley Police Department 11000 N. La Canada Dr.

EXPLORER NEWSPAPER 7225 N. Mona Lisa Rd. #125

Monetary donations are greatly appreciated. Checks can be made out to SAAFB or go to our website SAAFB.ORG and click on our on line donation link.

6252 E. Speedway, Tucson AZ. 85712 520-268-7299 Thank you for your support

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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OUR TOWN

Local school districts offering special summer programs C D Tucson Local Media

S

chools throughout Pima County are offering free summer school programs thanks to a boost from federal funds.

Marana Unified School District expanded their free summer programs, from preschool programs to high school summer recovery programs, for June and July.

“This year, we had a tremendous opportunity to expand our programs with additional grants and Federal funding,” MUSD assistant superintendent Kristin Reidy said in a prepared

statement. “Our teachers have really stepped up and are developing engaging activities and curriculum for students. We encourage our families to take advantage of this extended learning.”

Marana received an allocation of about $4.7 million in ESSER II funds with about $1 million allocated for MUSD’s Summer Enrichment Programs, which funds staffing for teachers and support service staff across the District, as well as safety and mitigation resources, curriculum activities and resources, and professional collaboration contract hours

for teachers, district spokesperson Alli Benjamin said.

Marana is also offering remote or virtual options for some of the summer programs.

“The remote offerings, it’s just different formats to best reach all students,” Benjamin said, adding that some students or parents may not feel comfortable with an in-person setting.

Amphitheater Unified School District is also offering free summer programs from kindergarten through high school in their Amp Up Summer Programs. However, Amphi is only offering

in-person programs.

Tucson Unified School District, like Marana Unified School District will offer remote options for some summer programs, including K-5 GATE Summer Enrichment Program and the Summer High School Blocks. Parents and students have until June 2 to register for the TUSD Summer Experience programs.

Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo said remote options are limited due to a lack of teachers during the summer.

“The reason we’re offering remote now is because all of our teachers are on contract, all 2,800, so we

can handle the responsibility of a dual-option,” said Trujillo. “Summer school is voluntary. Teachers are off contract at that time and there’s no way that we’re going to have enough teachers.

We’re going to be fortunate to just get enough teachers to cover the physical classes in-person. There really is no way we’re going to be able to cover a remote option. We’re just not going to get enough teachers to volunteer,” Trujillo said the summer programs this year will offer extended hours for a longer time than the previous threeweek summer school, as well as more detailed programming. Differing from previ-

ous years, TUSD will offer summer school at all schools in the district and will offer free transportation and meals for all students. TUSD received about $76.3 million in ESSER II funds, and planned to allocate around $25 million to academic recovery, which includes the extended summer school recovery programs.

“Recognizing the challenge of thousands and thousands of students who have been outside of the classroom, outside of in-person classes for a whole year, this requires a longer, more detailed and more accessible program for parents and students,” said Trujillo.

Senior Services Resource Guide 2021

An edition that will provide all the resources for our community’s senior population.

Coming June 2021

For more information call 520-797-4384

5

Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

Childcare: $10 million plan passes with 4-1 vote Continued from P1

“Successful communities support the education of their children, and I’m proud to be part of a community that is giving our children the best possible chance for success through this program,” said District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott.“The data is undeniable—early education works. Children who benefit from early education on average do better in school throughout their careers, are more likely to graduate from high school and earn higher wages after graduation.”

The proposed multi-year Pima Early Education program, administered by Pima County Community and Workforce Development, would provide funding for 1,245 children and begin July 1.

The plan includes: • Partnerships with eight school districts and Pima Community College to offer free, high-quality preschool to an estimated 480 children.

• A partnership with First Things First, a state

agency focused on early childhood development, to offer 560 additional scholarships to high-quality preschools within their “quality first” system, which includes school districts, daycare centers and home care.

• A partnership with Child-Parent Centers to offer extended-day Head Start preschool programs at 11 locations for 205 children.

It also includes a solicitation of proposals to contract with an experienced organization to develop a three-year implementation plan to develop a scholarship program.

There is a possibility of about $3 million in additional funding for the program from other local jurisdictions and partners, such as the City of Tucson’s $1 million contribution for scholarships for schools within the city and Oro Valley proposing to provide $100,000 for the upcoming fiscal year to support a three-year commitment.

Supervisors will still

have to approve the $10 million in funding during this year’s budget process.

While the plan was approved, Supervisors Sharon Bronson, Adelita Grijalva and Steve Christy voiced concerns over various aspects of the plan.

Grijalva, a Democrat who serves on the TUSD board, and Christy, a Republican who provided the sole vote against the program, had the same concern over the planning for more than one year with possibilities of federal funding that could be allocated to the program without the need for county dollars.

“I would hope that there will be some kind of thought to maybe holding back the process, holding back the expenditures until we see what the current administration is going to provide in this area,” said Christy.

Nicole Fyffe, an assistant to County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, said she did not expect the county to receive any of $39 billion in American Rescue Plan funds for early

childhood programs.

“It’s pretty certain that we’re not going to see that money flowing to Pima County into our Pima County preschools in this next coming year,” said Fyffe.

However, “if by some miracle that did happen,” Fyffe said the agreements that the county has started to work with other school districts or partners have termination agreements in place and the plan requires that the county funding be the “last dollar in,” meaning other funds, like subsidies from Arizona Department of Economic Security or American Rescue Plan funds be used first before using dollars from the county’s general fund.

“I think even in the second year, it’s going to be very questionable that it would remove the need for the county’s participation entirely, but if it did that would certainly be fantastic,” said Fyffe.

Bronson expressed concerns over the transparency of the process as much of the discussion and agreements were made privately

without public input.

“We need transparency, we need accountability and we need public involvement. There was no public involvement in this instance,” said Bronson. “It has every aspect of earmarking, which concerns me. I mean that’s what Congress does, their pet projects. That’s not who we are. We need to include the entire region, and give everybody an opportunity to be able to comment, and express their views, and we did not do that today.”

She noted the internal discussions between school districts and the county, requesting a more than one-year commitment in order to create more classes.

Fyffe said because of the uncertainty of the pandemic, school districts would “like to start off with a lot more new classes, preschool classes, but are reluctant to do that straight off the bat.”

Further, Christy and Bronson said they would have liked to see more private sector commitment.

Fyffe said that since Feb. 16, the county had conducted “extensive outreach” with school districts as well as with Preschool Promise, the initial advocates for funding early education programs. That coalition included representatives from the private and public sectors, as well as preschool providers, parents and other agencies.

During the meeting, Fyffe said the Tucson Metro Chamber proposed a survey of businesses to identify employee child care needs and identify creative solutions for businesses to support their employees’ child care needs.

But she said the county faced a “chicken or the egg” issue, whereby partners wanted to first see the details of the first-year plan before committing to funding or support.

“Until the county decided to go forward and the partners could see exactly what the plan would look like,” said Fyffe. “It’s a little bit easier to fundraise for a plan when you have something to show.”

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“Tucson would be a much lesser place if the Rialto or Fox were not able to remain in business,” said Kelly. “It really is an important part of what brings us together as neighbors and to have the opportunity to enjoy a venue like this is one of those things that makes places like Tucson really special.”

Kelly

Continued from P1

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Pool Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility!

Golder Ranch Fire District is asking you to be informed about Pool Safety. A drowning can happen to anyone at any time but the only way to ensure that everyone has a safe experience in the water is to supervise children around and in the water. Here’s to a safe swim season!

• Never swim alone, always use the buddy system regardless of age.

• At parties, assign a designated “Water Watcher” whose responsibility is to monitor the number of people in the pool and be prepared for an emergency.

• The designated “Water Watcher” should not be engaged in conversation, eating, or drinking alcohol. They should have a phone available pool side to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

• The “Water Watcher” should be an adult. They should take turns with other adults at the gathering in 20-30 minute intervals.

• Avoid “horse play” around the pool to prevent injuries.

• When it is time for everyone to get out of the pool, secure the pool area by ensuring that pool gates are closed, and that all swimmers are accounted for and out of the pool area.

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“We’ve got 550,000 small businesses in the state of Arizona, many of which have been closed for a long period of time, through no fault of their own. Venues like the Rialto are a lot different than a restaurant. Restaurants, many of them, are open and in business, reduced capacity, but they can generate some revenue,” said Kelly. “A Tucson icon like the Rialto or the Fox Theatre down the street or the Van Buren in Phoenix, I mean so many of these places have been closed for over a year now, and these are valuable small businesses.

So the purpose of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant is to make sure that these businesses can get open and provide these good jobs that hundreds of thousands of Arizonans depend upon.”

The Rialto Theatre, like other venues, closed since last March and had to cancel shows and events. Rialto Operations Manager Mark Martinez said they need the help as they have gone a year without any income, but continue to pay a mortgage and also have staff waiting for the reopening.

With the venue closed, Martinez said they had to let go of more than 100 full- and part-time staff members.

“They’re waiting patiently, hoping that we can get back here,” said Martinez, who expects the Rialto Theatre will open up again in the fall. “We can’t wait either.”

Kelly and his wife, Gabby Giffords, are no strangers to the Rialto. They reminisced about their favorite shows seeing acts like Calexico and Snoop Dogg as they strolled around the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project before its opening day on Friday, May 7. One of the only events the Rialto has offered since closing its doors at the start of the pandemic, the gallery showcases the photos of the many acts that have graced the Rialto’s stage by C. Elliott and Martinez, along with concert posters by Ryan Trayte.

Kelly and Giffords, a regular Rialto show goer since she was a kid, said the community would not be the same if businesses like the Rialto were to close.

“Tucson would be a much lesser place if the Rialto or Fox were not able to remain in business,” said Kelly. “It really is an important part of what brings us together as neighbors and to have the opportunity to enjoy a venue

like this is one of those things that makes places like Tucson really special.”

Martinez hopes the venue will “let people know that we’re still here, we’re not going away and just to show a little bit of history because all the photos here were created here in the theater, and it’s a history that brings back memories for people.”

KELLY VISITS CBP TENT FACILITY On his visit to Tucson, Kelly toured the tent facility for undocumented minors in Tucson, which opened Friday.

The “soft-side facility” constructed in the Tucson Sector, mobilized at a projected budget of $34.5 million, will hold people while undergoing processing, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Kelly, who visited the site on Monday morning, said the site is currently holding around 50 unaccompanied minors, with possibility of holding 150 and, if not for COVID-19, “maybe 500.”

“It’s part of the process we’re going through right now to make sure the Border Patrol has what it needs to handle this crisis at the border,” said Kelly.

Continued on P8

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et out your bird book and binoculars—it turns out that birdwatching offers a flock of benefits for Aging Well.

And luckily for those of us in Southern Arizona, our area’s climate, geography, and location along migratory flyways attract more than 500 species of birds.

You don’t necessarily have to hike into the desert to go birding; many people can simply look around their property to see everything from Anna’s hummingbirds to Gila woodpeckers.

That’s the case at Splendido, an all-inclusive community for those 55 and better in Oro Valley, where sharpeyed residents can see vermillion flycatchers, Gambel’s quail, and a variety of hummingbirds right on the property, not to mention two great horned owls in nearby Honeybee Canyon.

Benefits of Birdwatching Many locals here are passionate birdwatchers, and research shows that the hobby is good for their mental and physical health.

A variety of local and migrating birds can be found on and around Splendido’s property. This Costa’s hummingbird sips from a feeder in Splendido’s Madera Garden, which has been certified as a wildlife habitat.

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bird songs and calls as the most restorative natural sound for stress and attention fatigue. These benefits are enjoyed by anyone who notices birds; more serious birdwatchers are also getting a cognitive workout, as they work to identify species by sight, sound, and/or research.

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sharp. And, of course, they are getting at least a mild physical workout by traveling to where birds are found.

Research has shown that walking outdoors strengthens short-term memory, and that spending time in nature can lead to improved concentration and attention spans. Other studies link time spent in

nature with lower levels of inflammation, reduced hypertension, and even a stronger immune system.

And it’s no surprise that spending time outdoors will boost your mood. One study found that people in nature had slower heart rates and lower levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol than those who spent time in the city. Spending time in nature has also been linked to boosts in serotonin and jumps in activity in the brain areas responsible for empathy and love.

An additional benefit of a hobby like birdwatching is the social aspect. Birdwatching in a group like the local Audubon Society can build regular social connections—which, in turn, positively impact your overall health and wellbeing. It’s no coincidence that Splendido has partnered with the Tucson Audubon Society; with Splendido’s location and nature-loving population, the relationship is. . . well, a natural.

Give birdwatching a try—it’s an interesting, low-impact way to get some exercise, boost your brain health, and improve your mood.

Whether you’re a birder, an art lover, or both, you’re welcome to join a virtual tour of birds throughout art history that Splendido is presenting in a Zoom program for the Tucson Audubon Society.

Caroline Edasis, who oversees creative arts programming for Splendido, will lead the discussion at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26. “We’ll go far beyond the taxidermic museum displays of yore to explore our relationship with nature through depictions of birds in modern art,” she says.

“You may even walk away with new ideas for integrating creativity into your own birding practices!”

All are welcome to attend. You can RSVP to Nancy Boyle, Splendido’s Community Relations Manager, by calling (520) 878.2611 or email nboyle@ splendidotucson.com.

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Kelly

Continued from P6

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According to Kelly, Border Patrol has a challenging job, but “they did a good job thinking through what they needed to support these kids.”

As someone who has visited the southern border multiple times and speaks with Border Patrol on a regular basis and spoke with Interim Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin Monday morning, Kelly feels he understands the difficulties CBP face.

“Just hear about the challenges they face. It’s a difficult challenge, the numbers are up right now. They’re trying to make the best decision they can with the resources they have,” said Kelly.

According to Kelly, Border Patrol will have 262 additional staff from the northern border to “provide

some relief in the office, to allow Border Patrol agents to get out in the field to be able to do their jobs.”

Kelly said he feels “a little bit better” about how they’re handling the processing of children, with children to be held for a maximum of 48 hours.

However, Tucson Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik, who assists Casa Alitas, the migrant welcome center that provides shortterm housing for asylum seekers, feels the tented facility is “an absolute waste of money.”

“What we are doing right now is we’re putting families up in some hotels here locally and we’re scratching and clawing to get reimbursed for the money that we’re coming out of pocket on,” said Kozachik. “We can do it in a more humane way, using some of our local partners and hotels here.”

To this criticism, Kelly

said he and Sinema recently passed legislation that allotted $110 million to reimburse NGOs for the costs involved in housing migrants. He is referring to the additional funding FEMA awarded to the National Board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in mid-March.

“It’s up to Washington D.C., not communities in Arizona,” said Kelly. “Let me make that really clear, the federal government has failed the state of Arizona on this issue for decades now and it’s on Washington to get this right. It needs stronger border security, more technology at the border. Border Patrol needs the staffing to do this job. Also a positive development would be if we had more judges at the border. I’d like to see that happen. So we’ve seen some improvements, but we can’t get our eye off the ball. ”

READER PHOTO OF THE WEEK Reader Shannon Woods captured this awesome rainbow over Northwest Tucson. Let’s hope there are plenty more to see when the monsoon rolls into town. Send your photos to readerphotos@tucsonlocalmedia.com. Include your name, contact information and details about the photo, including who took it, where it was taken and the subject. Not all photos can be printed. See other photos online at www.tucsonlocalmedia.com.

9

Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

of Class of Graduation 2021

Mountain View High School valedictorian Pamela A tough senior year for Galindo: ‘You have to hold yourself accountable’ high school athletes Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

M

ountain View High School 2021 valedictorian Pamela Galindo never had a long term goal of becoming her graduating class’ number one, especially during such an unconventional school year.

But it was the lessons learned during that strange school year that will help her even after high school.

“I never really planned on it or tried to be number one.

I just kept on studying and trying to get better at school,” Galindo said. “I found out at the start of April, and I was really shocked. I didn’t even tell my parents because it took me a while to process the news. I was trying to find the right moment to bring it up, and wasn’t sure how to put it into words.”

Galindo’s family ultimately found out when the school district called them to let them know. Of course, they were very proud. Even Galindo’s friends and classmates were surprised, though it shouldn’t have been too much of a shock considering her high grades and time in Mountain View’s Academic Decathlon class. Galindo says she joined Academic Decathlon because she enjoyed studying about a variety of topics. Her win also came as a surprise to the other students in the top 10 of the graduating class.

“They were asking how I got number one, and I was also shocked to get it,” Galindo said. “It’s not something any of us were expecting.”

Galindo was also previously chosen as a 2019 Arizona Affiliate honorable mention by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, a nonprofit community of more than 1,000 organizations dedicated to increasing women’s presence in the computing world. According to Mountain View, NCWIT equips leaders with resources for taking action in recruiting, retaining and advancing women from K–12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers.

Valedictorians often serve as a kind of figurehead for their graduation class. For Galindo, it’s a graduating class invariably tied to COVID and online learning.

“The transition into everything being online was very strange. No one really knew what was going on or how long it would last, but now that we’ve been in it for a while, we understand how things are supposed to function,” Galindo said. “Online learning is a little challenging because you don’t get that face-to-face connection where the teacher can look over and re-explain things if everyone is confused.

It feels distant, but now that we’ve been in it for a while, we’re all learning how to ask for help and tell the teacher we

Tom Danehy

Special to Tucson Local Media

T Courtesy photo

“If you can hold yourself accountable during a pandemic, you’ll likely succeed during college where there’s no one who will tell you what to do at each time.” need more help.”

However, Galindo can find upsides to online learning, and says the process will even help her and her peers after the pandemic is over.

“You have to hold yourself accountable, and only those who hold themselves accountable will succeed,” Galindo said. “If you can hold yourself accountable during a pandemic, you’ll likely succeed during college where there’s no one who will tell you what to do at each time.

It taught better time management and how to seek help if you really need it for a class.”

After high school, plans to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to study mortuary science. She chose this major, not only because the concept of death fascinates her, but also because

she wants to help friends and families through the emotional process of losing a loved one.

As her class’ valedictorian, Galindo is tasked with delivering a speech at graduation, one which often involves advice for her classmates and future high school students who may be in the audience. Her advice: pay attention to what is happening around you— and if possible, try not to go to school during a pandemic.

“Don’t ruin your freshman year over something silly. It’s not worth it to try to be popular at that time. Popularity will come if it has to come,” Galindo said. “And try to seek tutoring. You may not think it’s necessary or that you’re fine without it, but it can be very helpful, especially in the long run.”

Her voice trailed off.

Everything changed.

There were no summer leagues, no off-season training opportunities. Even any contact with the coaches was severely limited to phone conversations and ZOOM meetings. There was no chance to build a team and the results were devastating.

The Dorados went 1-9 in their pandemic season, their lone win a two-pointer over lowly Walden Grove.

Through it all, she persevered. “Hey, it could have been worse. At first, the AIA canceled the (winter sports) season, but then they brought it back. At least we got to play.”

During the pandemic lockdown, she focused on her studies. Her favorite class is English and she enjoys writing uplifting stories.

She had also been the catcher on the softball team, but had decided to dedicate herself to basketball. She’ll always remember her senior season, but she’ll also remember what she missed out on.

“The worst part was the lack of a crowd,” she said.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) had strict guidelines as to crowd size for winter sports that included no more than two parents or guardians per player at home games and

he Hollywood version of a prep basketball career starts off with the wide-eyed freshman kid testing the waters, hoping to be a part of something and looking to build toward a glorious future.

For Reggie Romo of the Canyon Del Oro Dorados, it was more like “Memento,” a tale told in reverse, with the good stuff coming at the beginning, followed by an painful period of setbacks and heartbreak.

Her first two years with the Dorados, the future seemed bright because the present was blindingly so.

Coach Kent Senzee had built CDO into a perennial power, guaranteed to have a winning record every year and possessing a lock on a spot in the state tournament.

But after a couple star players graduated, the program took an expected downward turn, which then got caught up in the whirlwind of the worldwide pandemic and went into complete freefall.

“It was so cool my first two years. Everybody knew CDO basketball. We had other teams’ respect. My junior year was tough. We weren’t used to losing like that, but after COVID…” See High School Athletes, P12

10

Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

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Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021

Graduation Flowing Wells valedictorian headed to Stanford Jeff Gardner Tucson Local Media

F

lowing Wells valedictorian Syahmi Ali Mohd Rizal remembers walking home from school in third grade, planning out what he’d say from the graduation podium should he grow up to become a valedictorian. And though he eventually achieved the title, Rizal says becoming valedictorian was never a long term goal.

“It’s kind of surreal to think about that now,” Rizal said. “But ‘valedictorian’ has just been me trying my best. I try not to compare myself to other people.”

Despite it not being a lifelong goal, he admits he wasn’t too surprised to become valedictorian, because of his longtime academic achievements, including being in all Advanced Placement classes and being a full math grade ahead of his peers.

“His mom was extremely excited when we called her,” said Flowing Wells principal Jim Brunenkant.

“She sounded surprised, but I don’t think she was.

But she was very happy.”

Despite his success in

the classroom, Rizal also found time for multiple extracurriculars, including soccer, academic decathlon, and Interact club—but he most enjoyed school theater, which he did for multiple years, including roles in multiple musicals.

“I was just happier while doing theater, it made me more optimistic for school,” Rizal said. “For me, theater was a nice escape from the school environment while still being school. It kept my spirits up.”

According to a Flowing Wells release, Rizal’s high scores on the PSAT and ACT (along with his general grades) caught the attention of the national nonprofit Questbridge, which connects “students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education.” Ultimately, Rizal landed a full-ride scholarship to Stanford University, his first choice for higher education.

Rizal plans to study bioengineering, but wants to keep his options open, because he also wanted to be a doctor growing up.

“I actually opened up a second-grade time capsule that my mom gave me,

and it said I wanted to be a doctor,” Rizal said. “And I thought ‘Wow, I didn’t know I wanted to be one for that long.’ But I do want to keep my options really open. So I’m doing engineering, which my parents encouraged. But if I don’t look as optimistic in the medical field, I can also go into chemical or electrical engineering, and also so I can go into research.”

Rizal received research experience during his multiple years at the Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance at the University of Arizona’s Banner hospital. The program, run in tandem with UA Health Sciences, aims to enrich student education and general health literacy beyond classroom lectures, while also forming relationships between teachers, students and medical professionals.

Although Rizal’s valedictorian dreams date back to elementary school, he doesn’t plan on reciting what he thought of on that walk home from school years ago. He originally planned to mention that moment in third grade, as a kind of meta speech.

But he’s opted to speak on deeper parts of his life. Af-

of Class of

2021 High School Athletes

Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

“It was so cool my first two years. Everybody knew CDO basketball. We had ter all, as Rizal puts it, he other teams’ respect. My junior year was tough. We weren’t used to losing simply wasn’t as thoughtful like that, but after COVID…” . as an 8-year-old.

Basketball has been “I’m going to talk about Continued from P9 such a big part of her life being genuine and going for so long, she doesn’t out of your comfort zone. they left it open to indi- know what she’s going to If you stay the same per- vidual school districts to in the future to fill the void. son freshman year to senior be even stricter (but not Right now, she’s working at year, that’s not really a good more lax) if they wanted the Home Depot by Costthing. I think there should to be. The Amphitheater co and thinking about be a lot of growth during District started the winter pursuing a career in real that time. This is a develop- season not allowing any estate. mental stage for your mind, fans in the stands, but then I pointed out to her that body, spirit and personality. relaxed to the AIA’s stan- very few (if any) real estate It’s a time to gather your dards as the season went schools have basketball beliefs,” Rizal said. “Know along. teams. She said, “I know” “Seriously,” she continwhen to admit you’re as though she had already wrong. With society nowa- ues, “in other seasons, we looked into that. days, there’s a stigma in ad- could be down six points But after having lived mitting you’re wrong, like or 60 points and it didn’t through the worst year in you’re suddenly dumb if matter. We had the crowd the century-long history you want to ask a question. with us and we fed off of high schools sports in I say ignore all that. You’ll their energy. But this year Arizona, the future has to be so much more liked and was just kinda blah. We’d be brighter, right? open to opportunity if you get behind and there was “I hope so,” she said. no energy.” can say you were wrong.”

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hile more than 42% percent of Arizonans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, May 10, the coronavirus continues to spread across Arizona, albeit at a slower pace than what we saw in January.

For the week ending May 2, cases dropped for the first time since the week ending March 21, with 4,946 people testing positive, according to Dr. Joe Gerald, an epidemiologist and professor in the University of Arizona’s Zuckerman College of Public Health, who has been tracking the virus for more than a year.

That means an estimated 68 Arizonans per 100,000 residents are testing positive.

The state hit a low of 38 cases per 100,000 people on Sept.

8, 2020, between the summer and winter waves, and a low of 54 cases per 100,000 people on March 23 following the winter wave, with cases slowly rising since then.

“Case rates will likely remain ‘stuck’ above the thresh-

old differentiating substantial and moderate risk, 50 cases per 100K residents per week, for the next four to six week owing to more transmissible variants and continued normalization of behaviors,” Gerald wrote in a May 7 report summarizing the latest status of the virus.

Gerald noted that Arizona’s seniors now have the lowest rate of infections, at 26 per 100,000 among residents 65 and older, while the highest rate is among people 15 to 24 years old at 111 per 100,000.

He added that officials estimated 73 people died after contracting COVID in the week ending March 28, making it the first week with fewer than 100 deaths since October.

The week ending Oct. 4 saw the fewest number of deaths related to COVID between with summer and winter surges, with 51 deaths.

Meanwhile, county and state officials continue to urge Arizonans to get vaccinated. The state is continuing to run a vaccine point of distribution, or POD, in the Ina E. Gittings Building on the UA campus. Vaccinations on the UA campus are currently walk-in only, as the universi-

ty recently closed its outdoor drive-in clinic in the face of rising summer temperatures.

No appointment is necessary for UA vaccinations, but they are available. For more information on the UA POD, visit azdhs.gov.

Meanwhile, county officials continue to operate several vaccination PODs with partners at Banner South and Tucson Medical Center, including clinics at Udall Park, Kino Event Center and El Pueblo Center. Find details on locations and appointments at azdhs.gov or pima.gov/covid19vaccine.

The county is also running mobile vaccination clinics, including some upcoming clinics on the northwest side.

Upcoming clinics in the region include: May 12-13, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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SPORTS EXTRA POINT WITH TOM DANEHY &RECREATION Football and men’s basketball may be on the rocks, but you can sure cheer for these UA teams T D

Tucson Local Media

A

ny local sports fan not in the category of COMPLETELY RABID may not know this, but the University of Arizona is absolutely kickin’ it these days.

Oh sure, the football team finished the Pandemic Season in complete shambles; that 70-7 whuppin’ at the hands of Arizona State will be seared into our memories until and unless the Wildcats figure out some way to first let it scar over and then rub some dirt on it so that the scar isn’t quite so noticeable. I’m thinking maybe a five-game winning streak in the Territorial Cup series. That seemed to do the trick back in the 1980s. It’s certainly worth a try in the 2020s.

The men’s basketball program, driven into a ditch by the sullen (and now gone) Sean Miller, isn’t in quite as bad a shape as football, but the program is still facing an official NCAA smack-around and it’s being led by a guy who has never been a head coach before. Plus, players from last year’s team are jumping into the transfer portal like it’s the secret VIP entrance to The Club.

It’s going to take a few

years to see if those two programs can return to any semblance of their former relative prominences (football going to bowl games not named for lawn-care products, the basketball team having a realistic shot at reaching the Final Four). But Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke believes that he got the best two guys possible for those two jobs.

In the meantime, however, Arizona athletics are in a relatively golden age. Except for those two aforementioned giant pimples (okay, more like oozing boils) on the cheek of Wilbur Wildcat, the UA hasn’t been this good in this many sports at one time since the Glory Days of the 1990s.

To wit: • The softball team is ranked seventh in the country and is pretty much guaranteed to host Regionals and (should they win that round) a Super-Regional.

• The baseball team is in first place in the uber-tough Pac-12 and is ranked ninth in the country. They’re just about a lock to host Regionals and have a great shot at getting back to the College World Series.

• The men’s golf team won the Pac-12 Tourna-

ment, holding off traditional powerhouses Arizona State and Stanford down the stretch. And then, the Pac-12 named Wildcat Brad Reeves as Men’s Golfer of the Year, while Wildcat Coach Jim Anderson was named the Conference Coach of the Year. The team, currently ranked 16th in the country, will be competing in the NCAA regionals beginning May 17th.

• The women’s golf team is ranked 14th in the nation and is competing in the NCAA Regionals after a fourth-place finish in the Pac-12 Tournament.

• The men’s track and field team is ranked eighth in the country and boasts several top throwers and jumpers. Johnnie Blockburger became the first Wildcat ever to run the 400 meters under 45 seconds and he’s only a freshman. He credits his achievement to having to train in a COVID-era mask, which changed his breathing technique.

• The men’s tennis team upset host team Kentucky in the second round of the NCAAs to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history, but what they did earlier in the year is worth shouting about. The Cats beat

mega-powerhouses USC and UCLA in a weekend sweep for the ages. Going into this year, Arizona was 2-102 against USC and 1-72 against UCLA. All of this (along with the national runner-up finish by the UA women’s basketball team) should mark a return to the upper levels of the Learfield Directors Cup standings, a prestigious list that measures the overall strength of NCAA Division I athletic programs. It awards points for where teams finish in national tournaments or the final rankings in national polls. It was started in 1994. North Carolina won the Cup the first year, but Stanford has won it EVERY YEAR SINCE! (That’s crazy.)

There was no Cup awarded last year due to the pandemic and it’s still up in the air whether there will be one this year, although it seems likely as the NCAA has staged national championships in virtually all of its sports.

What many people might not know (or remember) is that Arizona was a perennial Top 10 finisher in the early days of the Directors Cup. In the first eight years of the Cup, the UA had finishes of 6th, 4th, 7th, 6th, 6th, 9th, 8th,

and 5th. And that 4thplace finish in 1995 was out of 231 schools.

However, in the past three years that the Cup was awarded (2017, ’18, and ’19), Arizona finished 42nd, 51st and 41st.

The troubles surrounding the football and basketball teams may rule the headlines on the sports page, but in terms of overall excellence, it looks like the Cats are back.

EXTRA POINTS: Marana and Oro Valley were certainly well represented in the state playoffs in multiple spring sports.

Marana Mountain View and Ironwood Ridge both advanced to the second round of the 5A softball playoffs. Mountain View beat Desert Mountain, 6-5 in eight innings, while 14th-seeded Ironwood Ridge upset No. 3 seed Sunrise Mountain, 4-3.

No. 15 seed Marana just missed pulling the upset of the tournament, falling to second seed Canyon View, 3-2. Mountain View played at Casteel and Ironwood Ridge played at Millennium in second-round-action yesterday (after our print deadline).

Third-seeded Canyon Del Oro knocked off 14 seed Sahuaro, 11-4 to ad-

vance to yesterday’s second round of 4A action against visiting Cactus. In 3A State play, Pusch Ridge lost to Empire, 12-0.

Ironwood Ridge pulled a major upset in the first round of the State Beach Volleyball Tournament, beating 4th-seeded Corona Del Sol, 3-2. In the second round, the Nighthawks fell, 3-2, to Basha.

Canyon Del Oro’s beach team lost in the first round to Coconino.

In boys volleyball, Mountain View advanced to the second round with a 3-0 win over Agua Fria.

The Mountain Lions played Gilbert last night (after our print deadline). Ironwood Ridge and CDO both lost first-round games.

In baseball, Pusch Ridge and CDO both advanced to the second round with shutout victories. Pusch Ridge beat Chino Valley, 3-0, while CDO demolished visiting Paradise Honors, 20-0. CDO hosted Notre Dame Prep while PR faced Sabino in quarterfinal matchups last night (after our print deadline).

In 5A play, Ironwood Ridge lost to Desert Mountain, 11-3, while Marana lost a heartbreaker, 2-1 to Sunrise Mountain.

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Daily Mass - online & in person Monday - Friday: 8:15am

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Communion Distribution Sunday 8-8:30am & 12pm-12:30pm Monday-Friday: 9:15am - 9:45am

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HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis

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18 Dumb bunny 21 Congregation leaders 22 Period of history 23 Reason against 24 Like freshly brewed coffee 28 Close way to win 29 Have a bawl 30 “___ out!”

(ump’s call) Fittingly, the first three letters of 32-Across 35 Sprint … or see print 36 Nickname of a 1950s president 37 Native Caribbean plant whose fruit grows in clusters 38 Polite affirmative 39 Source of great trouble 40 “Walk on the Wild Side” singer 43 Director DuVernay 44 Columbia or Brown 45 Bread choice 47 Three-tone chords 48 Clumsily handles 49 Flushed, as cheeks 51 Looks down 54 Cut of pork 55 Foretell 56 Cheese of the Netherlands 59 Hip thing to sip 60 35mm camera inits.

61 Vote of support 32

ACROSS

1 Pilgrim who’s been to Mecca 6 Show stopper 10 What a keto diet is high in 14 Writer Nin 15 ___ Emhoff, stepdaughter of

Kamala Harris Property claim Small, spiny lizard ___ Mountains, dividers of Europe and Asia 20 Fruit appearing on a Southern license plate 22 Mindlessly repeat 25 Insult, informally 26 Dried Mexican chili 27 South African plant whose leaves are used for a popular herbal tea 29 “All ___ go” 31 Not sitting well?

32 Occupation for 32-Down 33 Ready to go 16 17 19

34 Video game franchise with

characters found at the ends of 17-, 20-, 53- and 58-Across 38 Monogram on an expensive handbag, maybe 41 Zap 42 Play again 46 Transitional region between biomes 48 Having good marketing instincts 50 Many whiskey-based cocktails 51 Leader namechecked in the Beatles’ “Revolution” 52 Singer nicknamed the Prince of Motown 53 D.C. mayor first elected in 2014 57 Gray ___ 58 “Clumsy me!”

62 Like fine wines 63 Mental spark

Know Us, Know Your Community

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You like to be able to provide what others need, quick and magically, genie-in-a-bottle style. Beware though: The praise you get for this could become addictive.

Just make sure you don’t change your plans in order to make things happen for other people.

You can still help out while keeping your agenda sacred.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It can be easy to see the difference between actions, but the difference between inaction is harder to detect. Some inaction is neglect; other inaction is purposeful restraint aimed at a particular end. This week, you grow in power as you learn such distinctions and understand the motivations at play in your world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Doing what’s best for the group isn’t the least bit selfless. Everyone does better inside a thriving group. Besides, what the collective needs of you will be within your expertise, and a pleasure to give. In this regard, you’ll have many options. Well-placed commitments ensure your generosity has impact.

Crossword Puzzle Answers

41

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your focus has always been a valuable commodity but never more than in this century. An awareness of its value will set you in a class above the rest. This comes with the burden of responsibility. You’ll ask yourself, rather constantly, how you can make things better by spending your attention well.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your ability to do the things you tell yourself to do and behave in your preferred manner depends on understanding your own emotional landscape.

Unrecognized feelings have a way of motivating uncontrolled action. The bottom line is that you steer yourself better when you know yourself better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It has felt as though the weeks have been passing without bothering to progress your interest as they go, but this is a matter of perspective. The sudden rush of progress that happens after Thursday should help you to believe in a timing that is beyond what linear logic would lay out for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You used to think they didn’t understand you, though looking back you wonder if maybe it was you who didn’t understand yourself. It’s the instinct for reflection that matters most here. You’re learning yourself as you go, and the people around you will follow your lead. Close relationships are bound to get closer.

H A J A N A H O R

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GEMINI (May 21-June 21). This week, you’re on the lookout for ways to uplift others and appreciate their uniqueness and contributions. You’ll do this without putting yourself in a position to rate, rank or judge in any way. As you survey the scene, you will note how people might work together to an end that serves all, including you.

F L U E N T

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into place

7 Some YouTube journals 8 Jai ___ 9 Common first word for a baby 10 Well-versed (in) 11 Heroes of the sky 12 “I want to learn!”

13 Alec Baldwin, on more than

S N L H O S T

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5 “OK, that makes sense” 6 Game where everything falls

A I R A C E S

the like

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SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s a week of deep diving -- into subjects, people, situations.

Attention spans being what they are, you don’t expect many people to follow you to the depths.

This is what makes it so special when you really do find those individuals who will show up with their proverbial oxygen tanks, ready to go.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are times when you absolutely should rate the competition. In fact, a comparative analysis is the necessary and winning move. Not this week.

This is a time to answer to your own creative leanings. Keep your eyes on your own page, and you will succeed in a signature style that belongs only to you.

E C H R O O A N T

29 32

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1 “As if!”

2 What makes God good?

3 Peanut butter container 4 Excessive flag-waving and

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after every Mets homer

T V A E L L T O A R G I I S S S P O I O B K E E

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64 A giant one rises in Citi Field 65 They’re prescribed by docs 66 It may go out on a limb 67 Stiller’s comedy partner

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll come face to face with your apprehensions about a relationship. In a way, it speaks to your merit as a partner. Even as you are fully aware of the pleasure and inevitable pain of learning another person (and allowing yourself to be known), you dive in. Why? Close bonds are worth the risk.

Y E S M A A M

1

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your ability to see it from the other person’s point of view will save you a great deal of time and trouble. You’ll spend a set amount of time acting according to the needs of your loved ones, audience, customers, employer, etc., and the rest of the time you can do whatever you want. Your list is extensive.

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

classifieds@tucsonlocalmedia.com

Carpet Cleaning / Tile & Grout Cleaning

Contractor

DIRTY CARPETS?

VOTED - Best of Northwest 10 years in a row!

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· · · ·

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E  M N, M , 

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classifieds@tucsonlocalmedia.com Never Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF 2 FREE Months! 1-877-565-0239 (AzCAN)

Landscaping

Landscaping

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Announcements MEETINGS/EVENTS

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Service Directory CARPET CLEANING

DIRTY CARPETS?

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CONTRACTORS



GF and Son Contractor

Family Business 25 yrs. BBB Member & licensed. Specialize in all types of(New/Old) Roof repairs, Coating, Rotten Wood, Fascia Boards, Remodeling & Additions, Permit plans.

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

Advertising

Call 520-797-4384 to learn more about advertising

Classifieds

E  M N, M , 

S PORTS &RECREATION

classifieds@tucsonlocalmedia.com

JOB ZONE

Advertising

Now Contracting Drivers to deliver newspapers weekly Make some Extra Bucks

Athlete of the Week Get your message to our readers

Call 520-797-4384 to learn more about advertising in any of Tucson Local media’s six newspapers!

The Northwest’s Newspaper

Call Circulation at 797-4384 for details.

Job Recruitment

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

• • • • •

Saddlebrooke HOA#1 is Now Hiring!

F/T Security Manager, From $45k/yr, DOE F/T Administrative Assistant F/T Golf Course Landscaper F/T Janitor F/T Line Cook

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Email resume: jobs@saddlebrooke.org • 520-917-4373

Immediate Direct Care Positions at several locations to support developmental disabled adults, including transportation of participants. Mon - Fri 7a - 4p Min 18+, Obtain CPR/ First Aid, FP card, and Article 9.

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Call 866-459-5480.

(M-F 8am-6pm ET) (AzCAN)

Red Rock School is Hiring for the 2021-22 School Year!

Dentist Positions Available in Southwestern New Mexico •HMS Offers a Positive Team Environment •Competitive Wages and Benefits •National Health Service Corps •(NHSC) Approved Site •Loan Repayment Opportunities •Relocation reimbursement •Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) •401(k) Retirement Plan •Malpractice Insurance Coverage (through FTCA) •Continuing Medical Education (CME) Support

For more information visit www.hmsnm.org Or contact: 575-534-0788

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• Certified 3rd Grade Teacher • Kindergarten Certified Teacher We are just 25 minutes from NW Tucson We offer competitive salaries & benefits.

Interested applicants please contact: Mayra Martinez, Human Resources mmartinez@redrockschools.com

520-917-7307

Jacob Goldman Ironwood Ridge Boys Tennis

T D

Special to Tucson Local Media

T

he old blues song goes: “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all…”

Such was the lament for Ironwood Ridge junior tennis player Jacob Goldman. After an outstanding season where he went 19-5 in singles and doubles and led his team to a 9-2 record, Goldman, by the (bad) luck of the draw, ended up playing the same guy in both the team and the individual playoffs, losing close matches both times. (The odds against that happening are astronomical.)

Goldman’s dad, wellknown immigration lawyer Mo Goldman, was a member of a squad that put together one of the most-amazing streaks in Tucson athletic history. Back in the late ’80s/ early ’90s, the Green Fields Country Day School Griffins reached the state championship game in boys basketball four years in a row (under two different coaches). It’s impressive when a school does that in an Olympic sport (swimming, cross country). But when a school does it in basketball, it’s off-

the charts ridiculous.

“Those were good times,” is all Mo will say.

Jacob used to play other sports, but eventually he whittled it down to yearround tennis. “I know that a lot of kids have become single-sport athletes, but in tennis, you pretty much have to.”

Next year, Goldman should again be the No. 1 player on the Nighthawk squad, but he may not be the only Goldman to hold that distinction. His younger sister, Sarah, will be a freshman next year and word is that she may start as the No. 1 player and go from there.

For his part, Jacob wants to have a stellar senior year and he wants to do everything he can to see to it that he and his team both get past the first round at the state tourney in 2022.

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Explorer and Marana News, May 12, 2021